Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-07

demned the condition of our laws
which permit the collection from the
people OF unnecessary revenue and
have, in the most solemn manner,
promised Ills correction; and neither
as citizens nor partizans are our
countrymen in a mood to
condone the deliberate violation
OF these pledges. Our progress to
ward wise conclusion will not be inn
proved by DIV ling on the topic OF
protection and free trade. This savors
too much OF bandying epithets; it is a
condition which confronts us, not a
theory. Relief from this condition
may involve slight reduction of the
advantages which we award our home
productions, but The entire withdrawal
OF such advantages should not be con-
templated.
THE QUESTION OF FREE TRADE
Ia absolutely irrelevant, and the per-
-istent claim made in certain
quarters that all the efforts to
relieve the people from unju-t
and unnecessary taxation are
schemes OF so-called freetraders
is mischievo and far removed from
any consideration for the public good
The simple and plain duty which we
owe the people is to reduce taxation
IT, the necessary expenses of an
economical operation of the govern
nent, and to restore TO the business
OF the country the money which We
hold in the treasury through the per-
We sion of governmental powers.
These things can and should BE- done
with safely to all our indusir ies,
without danger to the opportu nifty for
ren lucrative labor which our work
ingmen need, and with benefit to
them and all our people by rhrapen-
ing their means of subsistence and
Increasing the measure of their CON-
forts.
THE DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS.
The Constitution provides that the
President shall, from time to time,
give Congress informa ion of the state
of The Union, and it has been the GUS
tom of the executive, in compliance
with this provision, to annually ex-
hibit TO Congress, at the o. ening OF
he session, the general condition OF
the country and to detail with some
particulars the operations of the diff
ferent executive departments. 1t
would be especially agreeable to fol-
low this course at the present time,
and to call attention to the valuable
acco ,plis1ments OF these depart
nents during the last fiscal
year, but I am much impressed
with the paramount Importance
of the subject to which this communi-
cation has thus far been devoted,
hat shall forget the addition of any
other topic and only urge upon your
immediate consideration the state of
the Union, as shown in the present
condition of our treasury and our gen
eral fiscal situation upon which every
! element Of our prosperity depends.
The reports OF the heads Of depart
lnents which will be submitted con-
tain full and explicit information
touching the transactions Of the bust
ness entrusted to them and such
recommendations relating to the legis-
alton Of the public interests as they
deem advisable. Task for these reports
and recommendation the deliberate
examination and action Of the legis-
lative branch OF the government.
There are other subjects not embraced
in the departmental reports demand
iag legislative consideration and
which should be glad to submit.
Some of them however have been
earnestly presented in previous meas
ures and as to them l beg leave to
report the prior recommendations.
AS the law makes no provisions for a
report from the department of State.
a brief history OF the transactions of
t at important department together
with other matters which it may
hereafter he deemed essential to COM
mend to the attention of the Congress
may furnish the occasion for u future
communication.
[Signedl
GROVER CLEVELAND.
WASHINGTON Docau har 1897